Services for Law Students
Ask a Law Librarian
Please feel free to contact any of our reference librarians with your research assistance questions. We are always happy to see you at the reference desk, but you may also want to stop by one of our offices, or call or email us.
| Librarian | Office | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Marsh | Law Library 104 | kmarsh@utk.edu | 865-974-0133 |
| Sibyl Marshall | Law Library 106 | smarshal@utk.edu | 865-974-5906 |
| Nathan Preuss | Law Library 105 | npreuss@utk.edu | 865-974-6736 |
Audio-Visual Support
The library offers an assortment of audio-visual equipment for classroom use. Examples of some of the items available include LCD projectors, laptop computers, video cameras (analog and digital), digital cameras, televisions, DVD and VHS players, ELMO’s/document cameras, overhead projectors, and audio equipment. If you need to use audio-visual equipment for your classroom presentation, moot court team, etc., please contact Jeff Groah at 865-974-6731 (or jgroah@utk.edu) at least 24 hours in advance to ensure that the necessary arrangements can be made.
The library also offers stations for viewing DVD’s and other visual media. These stations are in the Video Viewing Room, which is accessed from the Reserve Reading Room. You will need to request a circulation desk attendant unlock the room for your use. Also, you may wish to check out headphones, which are kept on reserve at the Circulation Desk.
We may also be able to help set up equipment for video recording of mock negotiation sessions, client counseling, and so on. Please contact Jeff Groah at 865-974-6731 (or jgroah@utk.edu) to discuss how we can best meet your needs.
Bluebook Citations (Samples)
This PDF document contains sample Bluebook citations and explanations. You can also find quick examples on the inside front and rear covers of your Bluebook. The inside front cover uses the format preferred in law review footnotes, and the inside rear cover uses the format preferred in court documents and legal memoranda.
CALI Lessons
CALI, the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, offers over 600 interactive online lessons for law students, designed to supplement and enhance learning in almost every legal subject. You will need a password to access CALI lessons. Passwords are distributed via cards placed in student mailboxes at the beginning of each school year. If you have misplaced your card, you may contact any reference librarian to receive the password. Requests must be made either in person or from your official UTK email account. Reference librarian contact information:
Katherine Marsh – kmarsh@utk.edu
Sibyl Marshall – smarshal@utk.edu
Nathan Preuss – npreuss@utk.edu
Carrels
Carrels may be used by any library patron. Carrels are not reserved, so you may use any carrel that is not in active use by another patron. Library materials that are left in carrels are regularly picked up and re-shelved by library staff. If you wish to keep library materials in a certain carrel, you should take them to the circulation desk and request “in-house circulation,” also known as checking materials out to a carrel. Most library materials may be checked out to a particular carrel for the duration of the current semester. When materials are checked out to a carrel, they must stay at that carrel – you cannot take them home, store them in another location, etc. The checked-out materials will be marked with a paper strip so that library workers know not to re-shelve the materials. If another patron requests the materials, they will be retrieved from the carrel and a note will be left informing you that the materials were recalled. Please keep in mind that just because you have checked out materials to a particular carrel does not mean the carrel is checked out to you – the carrel is still open to anyone who wants to use it, unless you are physically present and using the carrel yourself.
Leaving personal belongings in or on carrels is not permitted, and library staff clean out carrels over semester breaks, and occasionally during the semester as well. If you believe your personal belongings have been removed during a carrel clean-out, please check at the circulation desk as soon as possible. As a courtesy to our patrons, we try to retain personal items for at least a few weeks after clean-outs. Having the carrel number available will make locating any retained personal items much faster. While we do attempt to keep personal items (excluding items such as food or tobacco) for a limited amount of time, we cannot take responsibility for items that are left in carrels, including those that are removed during carrel-clean ups.
Checking out and Renewing Library Materials
As this library is primarily set up for in-house academic research, many of our materials do not circulate, or circulate only for brief periods of time. If you do want to check something out, bring it to the Circulation Desk and we will let you know the circulation period (if any). Here are our circulation, renewal, and fine/blocking policies for students:
Circulation
Most books will check out for either 2 weeks or 3 days, depending on the type of book. Please bring the book to the Circulation Desk so that we can determine the circulation period. Books on Secured Reserve check out for 2 hours. Audiovisual materials (such as DVD’s) check out for 24 hours.
Renewals
Items checked out on a 14 day loan may be renewed up to two times over the telephone, unless the item has been recalled, or has a hold placed on it. If an item has been requested by another patron you will be informed that it cannot be renewed. Students who have had their library check-out privileges suspended (see below) will not be able to renew items until the suspension has been lifted.
Overdue and Lost Items
The law library does not charge overdue fines for items that are checked out for 14 day or three day periods. Items on 2-hour or 24-hour check out accumulate overdue fines at 25 cents per hour, with a maximum fine of $20.
Fines and fees must be paid at the circulation desk or by mail and may only be accepted by a full time library staff member. Full time library staff are generally available to take fines/fees from 7 AM – 9 PM Monday-Thursday, and 7 AM – 5 PM on Fridays. We accept cash or check only. To pay by mail, mail your check, plus a copy of a fine/fee notice (if available) to:
Jeff Groah, Circulation Supervisor
Joel A. Katz Law Library
1505 W. Cumberland Ave.
Knoxville TN 37996-1800
We will mail you a receipt for your payment.
Having any overdue items may result in loss of library borrowing privileges until the item is returned and the account cleared.
When an item is long overdue, the Law Library declares that item lost and issues a bill for replacement and a processing fee. When the bill is issued, a hold is also placed on all of the student’s records and accounts at the campus level. If/when the item is returned in satisfactory condition, the replacement and processing fees will be waived, but any accumulated overdue fines must still be paid.
Books on 2 week circulation are declared lost after 21 days overdue.
Books/periodicals on 3 day circulation are declared lost after 10 days overdue.
DVD’s/books/other items on 24 hour or 2 hour circulation are declared lost after 5 days overdue.
Books and other items that have been recalled or have a hold on them are declared lost 3 days after the due date/recall due date.
The library sends courtesy notices of overdue and lost items to the email address that we have on file for you. If we do not have an email address, we will send a courtesy notice to a physical address that we have on file for you. Borrowers have a responsibility to notify the library of changes to their email and physical addresses. These notices are sent as a courtesy. Failure to receive a notice does not relieve the borrower of responsibility.
Holds/Recalls
Any patron may request that the library place a hold or recall on an item that is checked out. Once done, the patron who has it checked out may not renew it. When it is returned, it will be held for you at the circulation desk and you will be sent an email notice that your item is waiting for you. Recalls must be placed in person at the circulation desk, or by email from your official UTK email account. To place a hold by email, email Beth Offshack at boffshac@utk.edu. Please provide as much information as you can (title, author, volume number, call number, etc.) about the title you want held. You may also wish to provide a telephone number so that we can contact you immediately to resolve any issues that arise under the hold.
Recalled items:
When an item is recalled, a new due date may be assigned (the new recall due date will vary, depending on the type of item and the patron who has it checked out). A Recall notice will be sent to the original borrower to advise them of the new due date. Failure to return a recalled item by its new due date may result in the accumulation of overdue fines or the suspension of borrowing privileges or both. When a recalled item is returned, it will be held for the new patron at the circulation desk and an email notice will be sent to the new patron that the item is waiting at the circulation desk.
Computer Laboratories
The two student computing laboratories operate on the same schedule as the Law Library. Computer laboratory facilities are available to UT College of Law students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Equipment may not be saved or reserved in advance. Personal data files must be stored externally rather than on the computer’s hard drive. Although it may be possible for users to save files on the personal computer's hard disk, be aware that such files will be erased periodically without notice. All law students will have 1,500 print pages per academic year credited to their network account. Those enrolled in summer classes will have 500 print pages credited to their network account. Additional print pages may be purchase at a cost of $.05 per page in the Law Library Director's suite between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. See the computer support pages for more information
Copiers
The library has three copiers available for law student use. These copiers are located on the third floor near the elevator, in the rear corner of the Reserve Reading Room, and in the alcove next to the interior stairwell on the first floor. To use the copier, you must purchase a copy card from the black vending machine located behind the gold record display case on the first floor. This vending machine takes paper money only – no coins, credit cards, debit cards, or Volcards. Please let someone at the circulation desk know if you need assistance using the copiers or the vending machine, or if one of the machines is not working properly. Copies cost ten cents per page.
If you are working as a law faculty research assistant, your professor should make the necessary arrangements for you to have access to the faculty copier on the third floor of the College building, in the administrative suite; and/or to use the copy service in the basement. We do not have copy facilities in the library to make special accommodations for faculty research assistants here.
The library will make special arrangements for copy cards for Law Review, journals, and moot court teams. Let us know how many copy cards you want and how much money you want placed on each copy card, and we will create the copy cards for you. Just provide us your university budget account number and we will transfer the funds to pay for the cards. To request cards for your journal or team, contact Library Director, Bill Beintema,beintema@utk.edu or 865-974-6733.
Course Reserves
To locate materials placed on course reserve (including sample exams) by your professor, search by professor's last name or course name in the box below. You will need your university NetID and password to access electronic course reserves and sample exams. If you do not know your university NetID and password, visit this page to get them:
http://oit.utk.edu/newnetidinfo.php
Hard copy materials placed on course reserve can also be located using the search above. You can check out hard copy course reserves at the circulation desk. Just tell the attendant your professor’s name, the name of the item that you want and that is on course reserve. Course reserves circulate for two hours.
Disability Services/Accommodations
Exams on File
To access sample exams placed on reserve by your professor, search by professor's last name or course name in the box above (under the course reserves heading). You will need your university NetID and password to access electronic course reserves and sample exams. If you do not know your university NetID and password, visit this page to get them:
http://oit.utk.edu/newnetidinfo.php
Faculty Research Assistants
If you are working as a faculty research assistant, please have your professor contact one of the reference librarians to let us know. We can arrange for you to be able to check out books and other materials on behalf of the faculty member, and for any research assistance or additional training you might need.
Your professor should make the necessary arrangements for you to have access to the faculty copier on the third floor of the College building, in the administrative suite; and/or to use the copy service in the basement. We do not have copy facilities in the library to make special accommodations for faculty research assistants here.
If you anticipate checking out items from Hodges Library or another UT Knoxville library on behalf of your faculty member, you will need to obtain a proxy card from him or her. To learn more about how faculty get proxy cards, go here:
http://www.lib.utk.edu/circ/circ/addservices.html#proxycards
You do not need to have a proxy card to check out law library materials on behalf of your faculty employer. Just have the faculty member contact a member of the reference or circulation department, and we will place a note in the faculty member’s electronic library patron record stating that you are allowed to check materials out for him or her.
We strongly discourage faculty research assistants from checking out library materials under their own name when those materials are actually going to be used by the faculty member.
Please contact one of our Senior IT Technologists:
Daniel Freeman, freeman@utk.edu, 865-974-0614
Joe Gray, jcgray@utk.edu, 865-974-6859
to request a separate lab log-in for your faculty research, so that you may print what you need without depleting your own personal account.
If you encounter any problems with the network printers in the labs, see the lab assistant on duty, or contact Mr. Freeman or Mr. Gray, above.
Facsimile Services at the Law School
For job search related fax needs see career services. All other fax needs should be addressed through the dean's office.
Floor Plans
Please contact any member of circulation or reference staff if you need assistance in locating something within the library.
Interlibrary Loan (Getting Materials from Other Libraries)
If you need a book, article, or other item and the law library does not own it, we can likely help you to borrow it from another library. If Hodges or another UT Knoxville library owns it, you can usually have the item delivered to the Records Office, which will notify you when it arrives. To have books and other materials delivered from these other campus libraries, use the Library Express Service. Click here to use Library Express:
http://www.lib.utk.edu/circ/express/express1.html
If you have not already used Library Express, you may need to set up an ILLiad account. Look on the right side of the Library Express page for the link to “First Time ILLiad Users.” If you used ILLiad/Library Express before coming to law school, you may need to edit your profile in order to update your delivery location, which should be the Law School Records Office. Library Express also offers electronic delivery of online materials.
If you are looking for an item that is not held anywhere on the UT Knoxville campus, we can try to borrow it for you from another library. To place a request for an interlibrary loan, please contact Sibyl Marshall, smarshal@utk.edu or 865-974-5906, or our interlibrary loan specialist, Martin Grubb, grubb@law.utk.edu or 865-974-1823. Please provide as much information about the item as you can and be sure to include the best way to contact you, so that we can resolve any questions about the item, and also so that we can notify you when it arrives.
Interlibrary loan items generally take at least a week to arrive after placing the request, so please place your requests as soon as possible.
Journals/Moot Court/Mock Trial Teams
We strive to serve the extra needs of our student publications and intercollegiate competitive teams. Students involved in these publications and teams may be entitled to additional printing allocations in the library. We can also arrange to have high-denomination copy cards created for your team members (upon provision of your budget fund number so that we can arrange reimbursement). If study rooms are available on the third floor, we may be able to assign a locked study room for use by your team. Reference librarians are available to provide additional research training to your group. If you need library materials that are unavailable for any reason at our library, we can attempt to get them for you, either by requesting to borrow them from other libraries or considering them for purchase for our own collection.
| Service | Contact | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional printing | de Burns | 865-974-4381 | dburns3@utk.edu |
| Copy cards | Bill Beintema | 865-974-6733 | beintema@utk.edu |
| Study Rooms | Bill Beintema | 865-974-6733 | beintema@utk.edu |
| Research seminar | Nathan Preuss | 865-974-6736 | npreuss@utk.edu |
| Library materials | Sibyl Marshall | 865-974-5906 | smarshal@utk.edu |
Legal Research I and II Course Information
Library Director Contact Information
Library Lockers
Lockers are available in the library for law student check-out. These lockers are free and are checked out to you for the entire academic year. You will receive information in your student mailbox about the checkout procedure in the beginning of the fall semester. We do not recommend that you leave valuable items in your locker, particularly where they may be visible to passersby (the front of the locker is a see-through wire mesh). You are responsible for turning in your locker key at the end of the academic year – if it is late or lost, it will be treated as any other late library material. If you have lost the key, please let us know immediately so that we can get the locker re-keyed.
We also check out lockers over the summer term to law students who are in Knoxville for the summer. For summer check out, please inquire at the circulation desk. If we have lockers available, we also may check them out to our immediate graduates who are studying for the bar in Knoxville. Again, please inquire at the circulation desk for this service.
Lost and Found
Notary Public
The law library offers free notary public service for law students, staff, and faculty. Contact Phyllis McWilliams, pmcwill@utk.edu or 865-974-6547 to make an appointment to have your document notarized. You will be required to present a photo identification for notary public services. This service is only for law students, staff, and faculty.
Passwords for LexisNexis and Westlaw
You will receive your LexisNexis and Westlaw passwords as part of 1L orientation. Training will be provided in your Legal Research I and II classes. If you have forgotten your passwords, contact a reference librarian for assistance. If you are a transfer student, contact a reference librarian for help in moving your accounts from your prior school to the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Popular Movies
The library has a small collection of popular law-related movie titles available for check-out (24 hour loan period). Do a Title search for a movie you are interested in, or inquire at the circulation desk.
Printing at the Law Library
Each student receives 1500 pages of printing (single-sided) at the Law Library. You may print from your free printing account by using the lab computers in either Computer Lab A or B in the library ground floor. Two high-speed network printers are located in Computer Lab A, and one in Computer Lab B. If you are enrolled in summer school classes, you will be given an additional 500 free page prints.
If your printing account is depleted and you would like to purchase more, go to the library administrative suite on the second floor. Someone will typically be able to help you from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Additional pages for your printing account cost 5 cents per page.
Public Computers
Recommend a Book, DVD, or Other Title to Purchase
Reporting Library Problems/Concerns
Study Rooms
Study rooms are available on the ground through third floors of the library. All library policies must be followed while in study rooms. These study rooms are not soundproofed, so please be courteous to your fellow law students in the library and keep your voices down while talking in study rooms.
Study groups have priority for study rooms. Only study groups may reserve study rooms. To reserve a room, ask for the study room reservation book at the circulation desk. Rooms may be reserved for up to three hours, and you will need to provide at least two names for the reservation.
An individual may use a study room, but will be asked to vacate it if a group of students request or have reserved the room. If a group has reserved a room but only one of that group is present and using the room, that individual will be required to vacate the room if a group requests to use it.
Group rooms on the third floor are typically reserved for use by moot court and similar teams, or for professors who require additional workspace for ongoing projects. If your moot court team would like to request that a locked study room on the third floor be assigned to you, please contact the library director, Bill Beintema, at 865-974-4381 or beintema@utk.edu. If we have a room available for you, we will assign it to you. However, library policies must still be followed in locked study rooms, and repeated violations of library policies will result in your room being reassigned or made available for general use.
Transfer Students
If you are a transfer student, please contact our Head of Public Services, Sibyl Marshall, at smarshal@utk.edu or 865-974-5906. She will arrange for your LexisNexis and Westlaw accounts to be transferred here and will be pleased to give you a tour of the law library, explain our student services, and answer any questions you may have.
Typewriters
The Career Services office has a typewriter available for students who need to submit typewritten forms or documents. If the Career Services typewriter is unavailable, the library does have a typewriter that a law student may be allowed to use if it is not currently in use by library staff. Please inquire at the Circulation Desk if you need to use our typewriter.
Contact Information
The University of Tennessee
College of Law Library
1505 W. Cumberland Ave.
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1810
Phone: 865-974-7419
Fax: 865-974-6595
Please report problems observed on this web site here.